Okay, we know that song is not about Bolivia´s Copacabana, but still…

View of Copacabana from Cerro Calvario

The town of Copacabana, Bolivia lies 8km from the Peruvian border on the shore of Lake Titicaca.  It is a very peaceful place with lots of indigenous people selling food and crafts along the streets.  In the food market you are able to get a whole fried trout, with potatoes, salad, and rice, for 18 Bolivianos (under $3).

Copacabana’s cathedral is one of the coolest churches we have seen on this trip.  The inside was almost tackily-ornate, but we weren’t allowed to take pictures.

Vendor’s carts surround the cathedral, selling candles, flowers, champagne and small toys.  Confused about the champagne and small toys?  One of the most famous events in Copacabana is the periodic “Blessing of Miniature Objects.”  People buy small toys and items to represent the normal-sized things they’d like to acquire in the next year.  Hence, cars and houses are the most popular toys to bless.  They then take part in an elaborate ritual involving some prayers and chants, and ending with spraying booze all over the toys.  After this, they go home sure that sometime soon a life-size HotWheels cruiser is gonna appear in front of their house.

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